Princeton, Delran vie for spots in state finals
The Princeton High and Delran High boys soccer teams do not view sectional titles as icing on a cake.
These two proud programs will try for more Tuesday night when each moves on to the semifinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament.
Central Jersey Group IV champion Princeton (16-51) will take on South Jersey champion Washington Township (21-2-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Rowan University in Glassboro in hopes of advancing to Sunday’s 3 p.m. state final at Kean University in Union.
The winner between the Little Tigers and the Minutemen will play the North Jersey winner between Bridgewater-Raritan (170-3) and Kearny (18-0-4).
Of those four finalists, only head coach Wayne Sutcliffe’s squad is not ranked in the state Top 20.
Princeton has won four consecutive games since dropping back-to-back, one-goal games to Pennington (in the semifinals of the Mercer County Tournament) and Hopewell Valley at the end of the regular season. The Little Tigers claimed their first CJ IV crown by defeating topseeded Hunterdon Central, 1-0 in overtime, on senior Drew Beamer’s 21st goal.
Washington Township, which is ranked No. 16 in the state, defeated Rancocas Valley, 2-0, to win its fourth consecutive SJ IV crown. The Minutemen, who have an 18-game unbeaten streak, are trying to reach the state final for the third time in four years.
South Jersey Group II champion Delran (19-3-2) will take on Central Jersey champion Holmdel (20-11) at 7:30 p.m. at Hopewell Valley High in hopes of advancing to Sunday’s 10 a.m. state final at Kean.
The winner between the Bears and the Hornets will play the North Jersey winner between Dover (20-2-1) and Newton (14-6-2), both of whom are unranked.
Delran, which is ranked No. 5 in the state, is taking part in its third straight state semifinal and fourth time in the last five years. Coach Mike Otto’s team is on a five-game winning streak after defeating a Haddonfield squad which had not allowed a goal in states, 4-1, in the sectional final behind senior John Strohlein’s hat trick.
Holmdel, which is ranked No. 10 in the state, has a high-scoring offense which won the Shore Conference Tournament. After surviving a penalty-kick shootout with Matawan in the sectional semifinal round, the Hornets, who have an 11-game unbeaten streak, cruised to the title with a 6-0 win over Monmouth Regional and hope to get back to the state final for the second time in three years.
For now, being in the Final Four of their respective groups is not enough for Princeton and Delran.
Directions to Rowan University:
Take Route 295 South to Route 42 South (Atlantic City). As you merge onto Route 42, stay to the right to exit onto Route 55 South in about a mile. Follow Route 55 South to exit 50A (Glassboro-Mullica Hill). This exit puts you onto Route 322 East. Proceed about two miles until the intersection with Joseph L. Bowie Blvd. Turn left onto Bowie Blvd. and follow around to the back of campus. Field is at intersection of Bowie Blvd. and Carpenter St. Enter parking lot off either road. Allow an hour to an hour and 15 minutes travel time.